Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Palladium]

Christ, it's dangerous enough just walking. i wouldn't own a scooter or bike here.

[kiwiduncan]

[tomoyopop]

Anyone notice how almost nobody except the driver and passenger seat occupant wears seat belts in Korea? They carry this practice over when they're in the States, too. 0_0;;

Also, it really freaks me out that the majority of young motorbike riders (and their passengers) in Korea don't seem to own or wear helmets. I don't know if it's to look cool or if it's that sense of young invincibility. Only the ajusshis delivering jja jang myun seem to wear them. 0_0;;;

[prideofidaho]

I bought a bike a month and a bit ago and can ride it to work in the time it takes me to ride the subway. I find it a relaxing way to start my day, and a good workout on the way home. Fortunately, I can take the Han River Park for most of my ride, and I find the other cyclists to be pretty much on the same wavelength as me. Most are just slowly meandering along, and most are quite considerate of the fact that they share the road.

I think cycling to work will become a more and more common thing to do among young Koreans as it's kind of chic at the moment. I agree the safety education is critical, but to be honest most of the people I see have pretty safe cycling skills. I work in Seongdong, which is a pretty flat area, so I see a higher concentration of utility bikes around here. Most people ride slowly and with purpose, always keeping their eyes out for obstacles. Consequently, most motorists seem to be aware that the area has a high population of cyclists, so they follow suit.

I'm of the mind that the bicycle isn't a scary thing, and shouldn't be seen as such. It's as safe as the rider makes it.

[kiwiduncan]

[prideofidaho]

Well, sidewalks can be chaotic as well, but as long as everyone realizes they're not the only ones afoot nothing really goes horribly wrong, does it?

I guess what I was getting at is that cycling for pleasure shouldn't be so stressful. As long as you calculate your risks and be aware of everyone else, everything will be o.k. You may read about deaths in the news, but that shouldn't deter anyone from riding.

I've been down on the Han only once on a Saturday, but everyone seemed rather laid back and chilled out. I notice that Koreans tend to take their time walking and they do the same when they bike. Oh, and there were a few couples on tandems, but they weren't really going anywhere quickly and if they caused anyone to topple over, well it's kind of your own fault really as they were a standing target.

With that said, I am deathly afraid of cars and do not like riding on streets. Sorry, but that's just the way it's gonna be for me. I'll do my best not to annoy or bother anyone, but as a pedestrian I've been nearly hit a few times, so I'm not into taking my chances on the mean streets of Seoul.

[exit86]

I am way into riding on the streets here in Seoul; not as a regular commuter, but for the total thrill of it. It is pure chaos where the only rule is that there are no rules. People do some crazy stuff--pretty much out of absentmindedness and not seeing the car as a huge, deadly hunk of moving metal. Most folks drive like they walk--which can be insane
(for those of you intimately familiar with Korean walking mannerisms).

Riding on the roads here requires total focus and concentration or you will get smooshed. I've never experienced anything like it anywhere else--be it on the trail or big US city streets.

My guiding principle on two wheels is to think of the stupidest thing
the person near/next to you (in a car, on a scooter, walking) can possibly do and get ready for them to do it; 9 times out of 10, they do it.

It is non-stop, absolutely crazy, and a total blast!

[kiwiduncan]

[kiwiduncan]

[zeppelin]

I rode and raced bikes for years in the UK and Europe before I moved to Korea a few years ago.

From 15 km in the city commutes to 200 km rides in the Alps, I've always loved cycling but in Korea my enjoyment of the sport is probably down by at least 60%.

The drivers are incredibly inconsiderate, squeezing past at 50 km/h just to suddenly brake and turn right inches from your front wheel. I think the worst are the buses who come flying past you with the engine straining only to stop at a bus stop 5 meters ahead. Of course there are also the hazards of the (usually old) cyclist riding towards you against traffic.

Cycling is definitely not accepted as a reasonable transport option in Korea and cars and buses just regard you as a nuisance at best and a law breaking fool who ought not to be on the road the rest of the time.

The 'cycle paths' on the sidewalk are un-rideable - they are all off camber and full of potholes. After a couple of days of riding on those my road bike wheels were in need of serious attention with the spoke key. And thats not to mention the fact that the pedestrians just walk wherever they like regardless of bike signs which leaves you riding at about 10km/h (if your lucky) and braking suddenly every few meters.

My only cycling activities these days are on a cycle path beside a river where, despite there being 2 cycle lanes (one in each direction) and a rubberised and clearly marked running and walking path, people walk, ride, and rollerblade all over the 3 lanes, seemingly in a daze.

I was once almost knocked off as I cycled past an ajussi on the walking path suddenly pulling a 'Jesus on the cross' yoga stretch!

Cycling is a fantastic sport and a great way to get about, just not much fun in Korea. We can only hope that a change happens in the near future.

[kiwiduncan]

[Lou Giconi]

Personally speaking, I think a great deal of the bicycle-pedestrian accidents could be avoided if pedestrians actually took the time to look both ways and not walk all over the bike paths.

In the past biking down at Hangang river was a great way to commute, but more and more I'm seeing pedestrians without a care in the world cutting across the bike paths without looking both ways, kids running wild with no parental supervision and the worst of all, six-seven ajummas walking together blocking up the entire pathway without a care in the world.

Again, I'm biased as I bike a lot and it drives me actually nuts when I see walk paths next to the bike paths and people are walking wherever they please without even bothering to look where they are going.

In addition, if you are going to teach your child or children how to ride a bike, ( of course no Helmet) DO NOT bring them down to the Hangang on a weekend and situate them dead centre of a busy bike lane and let them try to gain control of a bike that's two sizes to big for them and then walk off without any supervision at all.

I've seen some pretty heavy-duty head-on collisions between cyclists and some kids on bikes doing circles in the middle of the lanes with idiotic parents looking on without anticipating what could happen --and bam!

Drives me friggin nuts!!!

[nosmallplans]

Honestly if you're fast at all on a bike you should just avoid bike paths all together. There are just too many slow pokes and kids on the path for it to be safe. People in the wrong lanes. People pushing strollers. Kids riding in circles. Not worth it.

Stick to the streets. Sprint between lights. Skitch bongos up hills and draft them down hills. Seoul is great for riding.

[kiwiduncan]

[nosmallplans]

truth. if you're with the lady friend... bike path is probably the best choice.

then again, if she's into thrills - there's nothing like tearing down walker hill or namsan on a tandem cruiser at 40mph.